Awards

The Dramatists Guild Foundation recognizes achievement in the theater by administering and/or presenting the following awards.

The Lucille Lortel Foundation Indigenous Theatermaker Award

Administered by the Dramatists Guild Foundation, The Lucille Lortel Foundation Indigenous Theatermaker Award is presented to an Indigenous theatre institution or organization for their work and commitment to the preservation and upliftment of Indigenous theatermakers located in New York State or Connecticut State.

The Inaugural Recipient is Iakowi:he’ne’ Oakes, awarded for her work as the Founder and Director of the North American Indigenous Center of New York.

The Legacy Playwrights Initiative Award

The industry-wide Legacy Playwrights Initiative is a process of rediscovery and advocacy for important elder playwrights whose writing has fallen out of the public eye. The Initiative aims to honor these writers and, as necessary, provide financial support for the exigencies of late life. The Initiative includes: Legacy Playwright Awards for sustained achievement, enduring excellence, and influence on the American theatre; advocacy and, when possible, financial incentives for professional theatre production; reissues of previously published plays; activities to build awareness within the profession and within American universities, to get the Legacy playwrights’ work read, taught, and produced. 

This initiative was launched by a founding committee of Anne Cattaneo (Lincoln Center Theater), Benita Hofstetter Koman (formerly of The Roy Cockrum Foundation), Todd London (Dramatists Guild), and Rachel Routh (Dramatists Guild Foundation), with fiscal sponsorship from the Dramatists Guild Foundation and in partnership with The Dramatists Guild of America and numerous theater professionals from across the industry. Founding support comes from Venturous Theater Fund, John Lee Beatty, Tony Kushner, Marsha Norman, and others. Initiative partners include Broadway Play Publishing, Concord Theatricals, Dramatists Play Service, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the National New Play Network.

The 2023 winners are Frank Chin, and Migdalia Cruz.

The 2022 winners are Carlyle Brown, and Milcha Sanchez-Scott.

The 2020-2021 winners are Ed Bullins, Constance Congdon, and Philip Kan Gotanda.

The Stephen Schwartz Award

The Stephen Schwartz Award is a pledge to the future of musical theater. Selected by a private committee of composers and industry leaders, the $10,000 Award is given annually to a musical theatre writer whose voice is seen as critical to the continued success of the craft, in unconditional support of their work. The Stephen Schwartz Award debuted in 2019.

Recipients by year:

  • Benjamin Velez, 2023
  • Heather Christian, 2022
  • Emily Gardner Xu Hall, 2021
  • Khiyon Hursey, 2020
  • Oliver Houser, 2019

The Thom Thomas Award

Since 2016, DGF has had the privilege of annually awarding the Thom Thomas Award to an alumnus of the Fellows program. This $10,000 award commemorates playwright Thom Thomas’s endless passion for nurturing the next generation of dramatists and his appreciation of DGF’s support of writers. The Thom Thomas Award is made possible through the generous support of his longtime friends and colleagues, Iris Rainer Dart and Helen Lee Henderson. The selected awardee demonstrates great artistic skill and articulates how they would put the money to use. This can include livelihood expenses, project expenses, travel expenses – anything that will support their ability to create their best work.

Past recipients by year:

  • Zeniba Now, 2023
  • Avi Amon, 2021
  • Erika Dickerson-Despenza, Julia Meinwald, Benjamin Velez, 2020
  • Riti Sachdeva, 2019
  • Stefanie Zadravec, 2018
  • Sylvan Oswald, 2017
  • Chisa Hutchinson, 2016

*This Award was not given in 2022.

The Madge Evans & Sidney Kingsley Awards for Excellence in Theater

Also known as the Kingsley Awards, this $10,000 honor is DGF’s longest-running award. It is given annually to a deserving stage actress and a playwright who are mid-career.

Past Recipients by year:

  • Stephen Adly Guirgis, and Elizabeth Canavan, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Elizabeth Rodriguez, 2021
  • Judith Light and Tony Kushner, 2018
  • Audra McDonald and Craig Lucas, 2016
  • Viola Davis and Lisa Kron, 2014
  • Linda Lavin and Lynn Nottage, 2012
  • Estelle Parsons and David Ives, 2010
  • Laura Linney and John Patrick Shanley, 2008
  • Marsha Norman and Lois Smith, 2006
  • Ruby Dee and Edward Albee, 2005
  • Terrence McNally and Judith Ivey, 2004
  • August Wilson and Elizabeth Franz, 2003
  • Uta Hagen and John Guare, 2002
  • Julie Harris and Romulus Linney, 2001
  • Marian Seldes and Donald Margulies, 2000
  • Kathleen Chalfant and Christopher Durang, 1999
  • Tina Howe, and Frances Sternhagen and Cherry Jones, 1998

The Benjamin Indick Award

The Benjamin Indick Award is DGF’s newest Award, honoring a mid-career lyricist, librettist or book writer for musical theater, in honor of the late science fiction writer. The inaugural winner is Paulo K Tiról.

The Flora Roberts Award

Named in honor of the famed theatrical agent, this award is presented to individuals in recognition and gratitude of their distinguished work in the world of theater and to encourage the continuation of that work. This Award is distributed by the Dramatists Guild.

The Kirkwood Award

Given in honor of author and playwright James Kirkwood to a theater whose mission includes the encouragement, nurturing, and mentoring of emerging playwrights. This Award is distributed by the Dramatists Guild.

The Frederick Loewe Award

The Frederick Loewe Award recognizes achievement in a theatrical score presented in New York during the previous theatrical season. This Award is distributed by the Dramatists Guild.